A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Well done on getting the appointments and drugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 but we really want to be referred to a consultant - can nurses do that? Some can but they are few and far between depends on how things have developed locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chookiehen Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 In our surgery, should you see the nurse about something she cannot deal with, she gets the gp to pop along and do the needful, usually with a minimal wait (10-15 mins), or she gets one of the gps to phone you before the end of the day. So, if she was seeing poor Isabelle, for example, she would probably get the gp to phone later, to arrange a referral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Nurses usually can do quite a lot in GP practice, a lot of course depends on the nurse, her skills & experience and her relationship with the GPs. Certainly a fully qualified nurse practitioner can do pretty much all that a GP can these days, except order an x-ray in her own name, although they will often ask for assistance from a GP with difficult scenarios. As far as I know nurse practitioners can refer to consultants, definitely they could where I worked in SE London, but I guess that may depend on the consultant being willing to accept nurse referrals. Practice nurses without the full NP qualification can still do a lot in their own right, certainly the contraception thing...see a nurse , and can give you advice as to whether you need to see a GP urgently, non-urgently, or not at all. If it's urgent.....normally they can arrange things so that you see the GP pretty quickly. There were times when I'd have to ask a GP to pop in and see someone with me because they'd presented with a condition far more acute than I felt competent to deal with. That said I agree it's a less than ideal situation. Personally I felt that the 48 hour rule didn't work, we'd have people taking up on the day appointments with the coughs & colds & sore throats that would have resolved if they'd had to wait for 2 or 3 days to be seen (and which really didn't need seeing anyway), but others would have to wait weeks with potentially serious or debilitating things because they couldn't hit the phone fast enough at the right time. I'm not sure what the answer is. Over here I can get a GP appt almost any time I like, from 7am to 9pm if I don't mind which Dr I see, with no real waiting time. BUT I pay for it, $45 is the normal going rate. To put that in context I had a wash, cut & blow dry the other day, that cost me $42. So the cost of seeing a GP is on a par with the cost of seeing a hairdresser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Interesting Cate - I'll bet at $45 a pop there are a LOT less coughs and colds in the surgery. I hate that - get there and all the people coughing and sniffling are going to mean I have a chance of leaving having caught more than I came in with! I get this at work too - kids coughing and sneezing all over me - of course they are the ones who don't go to the doctors whenever they have a cold - that lot are usually off sick and cluttering up the doctors waiting room! I still felt guilty explaining to my friend that I had taken James to the doctors with a sore finger - he'd never experienced this problem so didn't really understand. Fortunately we caught it early enough this time that it hasn't had to be burst and he just has antibiotics. James was VERY reluctant to go today - and when we got there he didn't want the finger even looked at because it hurt soooo much last time when the doctor had to burst it. This time it's just tablets - 4 a day on an empty stomach or 1 hour before food. HANDS UP anyone who ever has a child with an empty stomach or 1 hour away from food???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Blimey Pengy. There's a difference between having a sore finger and needing bits of it burst or drugged! There's absolutely NO shame in taking a kid to a doctor about that! Poor boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 dont get me started.... I have just got an appointment for a smear test.... 3 months ive been trying at my local GP!!! Cant you bring your children with you.... was the response I just got to the first appointment she just offered to me....errrrr NO!!!! still finally got one!!!! sorry just needed to rant.... can i bring the children? please!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Oh poor James, Pengy! Hope he feels better soon! Well we went to the doctors as planned last night and were told Isabelles eczema is infected thats why the steroids arent working and he also asked us why we hadnt brought her earlier!!! Not for lack of trying i told him!!!! Anyway Isabelle is now on antibiotics - one hour before food or on and empty tummy! (Pengy i can relate to you here!) Dr also gave her some paracetamol without E numbers - another trigger for her eczema and we also have a consultants appointment & the hospital deal direct with bookings but despite the line being open from 8 - 5 there is currently 'no-one available to take your call and please dont leave a message' The NHS is brilliant and we do a lot better off than some countries who have no medical care whatsoever but surely the systems could be improved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 i see both sides here working in GPs. We have a lot of "no shows" and people who are very late ie over 15mins and saunter in and get cross cos we wont see. But frankly its not fair on elderly, v ill and mums with babies and kids. I am not a nurse practioner but will see someone and ask GP for advice or script if I'm sure of my diagnosis and if I'm not I pass em on. I'm no angel - I miss my breaks cos of peoples selfishness and in a nearly 10 hour day thats not good. So it swings both ways - u may not get appt because mrs X has booked herself in and cant be bothered to get out of her pit on time to get there so doesnt show. Or they call 2 mins before appt time and cancel. 9/10 we cant fill that slot. I have one pt who rings to say they will be 10mins late turns up 30mins each time and lives 2 mins up the road from surgery- no kidding. I could go on forever here but its not fair on others. However I do think the system has to change - but have no answers - I'd be a rich woman if I did. Oh and apologies to Mrs X if youre reading - i know who you are Oh and get well soon everyone- I am on your side just wanted to put the other side as we arent all evil in GP surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I do sympathise I really do. Our recption staff are lovely they are wonderful to kids and elderly and always act as Patients advocate and I regularly hear them offering to speak to nurse see if she can help. They get a lot of abuse and flack too. Some people are plain nasty. However thats not to say they have always been good - we had one who was a cross between Michael barrymore ("Awroight") and Julie walters in Acorn Antiques. She had to go There are faults on all sides - no shows, bad pts, bad staff and much more. Please give the poor NHS a chance - many of us do our best - and yes we get ill too and moan more than anyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Slightly off kilter, but Him Indoors lost a filling yesterday. He rang to ask for an urgent dental appointment, to be told that the earliest one was July 8th. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Tiggy you are in the West Midlands - you dont work at my practice do you?! The reception lady i spoke to was really understanding and sympathetic but like you said she could do nothing and i will just have to call back and pray i get through! Thanks Louise - we are hopeful! I work in Kidderminster but I think most practices are in the same boat. As for back pain it can be terrible, I've seen people in trouble with it for months, mostly it does get better with pills and gentle exercise but it can be very worrying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Dont get me started on doctors appointments! whenever I go in or drive past our small village surgery I tend to see the same people going in (unemployed people who havent worked for years but look capable of working ) and taking ages in with the doctor, yet when anyone else goes in you are in and out within 2 minutes! (mini rant over!) oooh dont get me started on that one, but apparently all the evidence shows that long term unemployment is very bad for your psychological and then your physical health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I do sympathise I really do. Our recption staff are lovely they are wonderful to kids and elderly and always act as Patients advocate and I regularly hear them offering to speak to nurse see if she can help. They get a lot of abuse and flack too. Some people are plain nasty. However thats not to say they have always been good - we had one who was a cross between Michael barrymore ("Awroight") and Julie walters in Acorn Antiques. She had to go There are faults on all sides - no shows, bad pts, bad staff and much more. Please give the poor NHS a chance - many of us do our best - and yes we get ill too and moan more than anyone else ooh what do you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Well do you really want to know - I am a Practice Nurse for my sins so I see all sides - our staff are loverly but boy do they get some flack from pts. And yes some pts have season tickets and their own seats in recp. I regularly see the same faces week in week out and I'm sure its not cos they think I'm wonderful (oh yes u r ) Some pts make a family outing of a visit to the Docs - I mean bringing the old man and MIL and next doors cat when u come for a smear - well I've seen it all. i wouldnt want everyone t know what I'm coming for. As i said before I do feel for the genuinely ill and I am a big moaning minnie when my GP's doesnt come up to my high standards. But keep complaining - thats what I tell pts as it wont change unless we make it. Its no good whinging to me - write letters to Gordon and the health secretary , PCT - just dont moan to me. There finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 whenever I go in or drive past our small village surgery I tend to see the same people going in (unemployed people who havent worked for years but look capable of working ) You can tell all this just by driving past them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I needed an appt yesterday but none to be had - yes it was an emergency I stated as I had stomach pains really bad!. Had to phone back after lunch and was told to come at 3.20 - was in half an hour - ( I thought I had appendicitis- was convinced) doctor thinks urine infection - AGAIN!. I am on 2 lots of ab's at the same time and paracetamol as had a high temp and he asked my why I wanted seen to-day!! I ask you cause I was feeling really bad and rarely go to my gp surgery unless its urgent. Least I was seen though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 i see both sides here working in GPs. We have a lot of "no shows" and people who are very late ie over 15mins and saunter in and get cross cos we wont see. But frankly its not fair on elderly, v ill and mums with babies and kids. I am not a nurse practioner but will see someone and ask GP for advice or script if I'm sure of my diagnosis and if I'm not I pass em on. I'm no angel - I miss my breaks cos of peoples selfishness and in a nearly 10 hour day thats not good. So it swings both ways - u may not get appt because mrs X has booked herself in and cant be bothered to get out of her pit on time to get there so doesnt show. Or they call 2 mins before appt time and cancel. 9/10 we cant fill that slot. I have one pt who rings to say they will be 10mins late turns up 30mins each time and lives 2 mins up the road from surgery- no kidding. I could go on forever here but its not fair on others. However I do think the system has to change - but have no answers - I'd be a rich woman if I did. Oh and apologies to Mrs X if youre reading - i know who you are Oh and get well soon everyone- I am on your side just wanted to put the other side as we arent all evil in GP surgery. I hear you, the system isn't perfect and neither am I but there is a SMALL group of people who abuse us and the NHS so much and it puts a strain on everything. I work with great GPs and nurses and the reception staff do a grand job (I'd hate to do it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 whenever I go in or drive past our small village surgery I tend to see the same people going in (unemployed people who havent worked for years but look capable of working ) You can tell all this just by driving past them? I dont know how this came up I didn't write it I was reading the posts must have pushed the wrong button Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Well i popped along to my GP surgery today to pick up a repeat prescription and asked if a nurse was available to have a look at Isabelles hand - she had scratched it raw over night despite wearing two pairs of mitts the nurse was great and saw us right away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Well as I say I see both sides. having tried to make OH an appt via the internet link and failed he stomped out of house and into Gp surgery and grumpily told receptionist that system wasnt working. he saw dr after 10mins and that was without appt. he apologised to her later as he knew he'd get an ear bashing from me if he didnt he got appt for me this pm and I had wheezed up stairs and hadnt even got a buttock on seat and dr called me. Excellent service I think. At work we have a suggestions and comments book which pts can put their thoughts in. one of my elderly ladies was saying there was nothing about the nurses and she was going to put something. Quite right too. I left her writing an epistle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Oh and Tiggy - what do you do? I suspect you work in Drs surgery - just being nosey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Oh and Tiggy - what do you do? I suspect you work in Drs surgery - just being nosey Im an advanced nurse practitioner in a GP surgery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Excellent I knew u were something nursified!! you get vibes about people dont you. I guessed Damien was a nurse too - by the way where is he? must be on Hols Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
